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Clinical information

Diagnosis:

(Spitzoid) nodular melanoma

Comments:

At low power, the lesion is more densely cellular and compact than usual Spitz naevi are. There is considerable mitotic activity at all levels of the lesion.

Since Spitz naevus resembles melanoma more closely than other naevus types (Dr Sophie Spitz originally considered them to be melanomas that, for some reason, did not manifest their malignant potential in children), it follows that melanomas not uncommonly resemble Spitz naevus. If the resemblance is striking, such melanomas are sometimes referred to as 'spitzoid melanomas'.

Since this resemblance is independent of other parameters that allow subtyping of melanoma, there are spitzoid superficial spreading melanomas, spitzoid nodular melanomas, etc. In adolescents and adults, the spitzoid appearance does not have a bearing on the melanoma in terms of biological behaviour.

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I believe this website may be of interest to you. It is an Open Educational Resource, containing a large collection of digitized histologic slides with explanatory films and other materials, aimed at surgical pathologists, dermatopathologist and pathologists in training. This site is entirely based on consultation materials of professor Wolter Mooi, VU University Amsterdam, and can be used free of charge.
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